Care Assisted Living 3

Care Assisted Living 3 is a six-bed assisted living home on Herndonwood Drive in Farmington Hills, Michigan, where a small household takes the place of a large building. With only six beds, the days follow the habits of the people who live there, and caregivers come to know each person's routines, favorite foods and preferred times for getting up in the morning and settling in for the evening. The setting feels like an ordinary house with a shared table, a living area and bedrooms down the hall, which gives residents the privacy they want along with company whenever they would like it.

The home offers both private bedrooms and shared bedrooms, and the rooms come furnished so that a move can be made with clothing, family photographs and a few treasured keepsakes. A telephone is available in the room, and an emergency alert system gives residents a way to call for help at any hour of the day or night. The home is wheelchair accessible, which lets people who use mobility equipment move between their room, the dining room and the common spaces without trouble.

Caregivers provide help with the activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing and transfers from bed to chair, and the care team manages medication for each resident. Supervision is available around the clock, and the home is able to support people who are not able to walk on their own. The team also coordinates with each resident's own healthcare providers, so that appointments and follow-up stay organized and family members stay informed about any changes in health or mood.

Because only a handful of people live in the home, caregivers can respond quickly when someone needs a hand, and residents do not have to wait their turn for attention the way they might in a larger building. Meals are served in a dining room on a regular schedule, and dining is available throughout the day for residents who would like a snack or a drink between meals. The kitchen plans for diabetic diets, gluten-free needs and food sensitivities, so people with specific eating requirements can sit at the same table as everyone else.

In a household of six, mealtime is a conversational part of the day, with caregivers close by to help anyone who needs assistance with their plate. Scheduled activities take place each day, and the calendar includes movie nights and community events that bring residents together in a relaxed way. A garden and walking paths give people a place to spend time outdoors when the weather is pleasant, and the home arranges transportation so that residents can visit nearby parks and local places of interest.

Laundry and housekeeping are handled by the household, which leaves residents free to spend their time the way they choose. Many residents find that a small group makes it easier to take part, since a movie evening or a walk around the grounds feels like an invitation among neighbors rather than a scheduled event for a crowd. Move-in coordination is part of what the home provides, which helps families who live far away or have demanding work schedules and cannot be present for every step of a transition.

Parking is available for visitors, so relatives can stop by for a meal, a movie evening or a quiet visit in the garden. Residents can bring family photographs and keepsakes to make a room feel familiar, and the small size of the household means a new person is quickly known by everyone under the roof. Farmington Hills gives the home a convenient setting for visiting family and for everyday errands. Corewell Health Farmington Hills Hospital is the closest hospital, at about 4 miles from the home, and pharmacies, grocery stores, coffee shops and restaurants can be reached within a short drive in the surrounding city.

Details such as which rooms are open now, how a typical day runs and how the household supports each person's particular needs and preferences come from a conversation with the home directly, and families can arrange a visit to meet the caregivers and see the rooms in person.